Fowler Methodist Episcopal Church
Encyclopedia
Fowler Methodist Episcopal Church, now known as the Scottish Rite Temple, is a historic church building in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota
. It was designed by architects Warren H. Hayes
and Harry Wild Jones
. Hayes submitted the original design for the chapel in 1894, but financial difficulties and Hayes' death put construction on hold for a while. Harry Wild Jones took over the project and brought it to completion in 1906.
The Fowler congregation merged with the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church in 1915, and the Scottish Rite Temple bought the building the next year. They made some modifications to the auditorium to accommodate Masonic rituals, but most of the original features were kept, including extensive use of stained glass
. The exterior is built of hard quartzite
from southwestern Minnesota, along with red sandstone
trim. It has two massive towers, three arches over the entry porch, and a 24 feet (7.3 m) rose window
. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1976.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. It was designed by architects Warren H. Hayes
Warren H. Hayes
Warren Howard Hayes was a leading designer of churches in the United States and Canada during the late 19th century. Hayes' work holds a significant place in its association with the "Social Gospel" movement...
and Harry Wild Jones
Harry Wild Jones
Harry Wild Jones was a popular Minneapolis, Minnesota-based architect who designed throughout the country and the world. Born two years before the start of the American Civil War, Jones, a twelfth generation New Englander, took his place on the American architectural stage in the late 19th century...
. Hayes submitted the original design for the chapel in 1894, but financial difficulties and Hayes' death put construction on hold for a while. Harry Wild Jones took over the project and brought it to completion in 1906.
The Fowler congregation merged with the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church in 1915, and the Scottish Rite Temple bought the building the next year. They made some modifications to the auditorium to accommodate Masonic rituals, but most of the original features were kept, including extensive use of stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
. The exterior is built of hard quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
from southwestern Minnesota, along with red sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
trim. It has two massive towers, three arches over the entry porch, and a 24 feet (7.3 m) rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1976.